BBC staff see future role for Apple's iPad

Staff out on location a lot may be better off with a handheld device

The BBC are investing in the Apple iPad as a mobile device that may eventually replace both the desktop and laptop.

"We're seeding the organisation with the devices. We put some iPads into production and some into management and other roles to see if people would be able to give up their desktop," said the BBC's CTO John Linwood.

"Staff out on location a lot may be better off with a handheld device."

Linwood added the iPad could be a useful tool for BBC technical staff: "If a support engineer gets called into a studio, it would be handy to have a device where you could look up circuit diagrams or software help files."

As part of a series of trials, the BBC are testing a number of devices, including those run on Google's Android operting system.